Weather means atmospheric conditions including wind, temperature and precipitation, often in a specific area or at a specific time.
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2answers
33 views
Remote access to Area Forecast Discussion
Is it possible to access Area Forecast Discussion via SMS? I fly to remote areas frequently (Wilderness), and after several days, it is almost impossible to get a good weather forecast, (one you're ...
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0answers
80 views
Diversions because of fog: What are the reasons?
It's fog season again around my local airport MUC (EDDM), and I have noticed a number of diversions recently. Some planes were holding a bit before attempting to land, performed a go around and then ...
2
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1answer
107 views
With wind, what will a perfectly circular flight path relative to the surrounding air look like from the ground? [duplicate]
Let's suppose that an airplane flying at a uniform airspeed follows a perfect, level, closed circular trajectory with respect to the mass of air. Now, seen from the ground, and in the presence of a ...
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2answers
1k views
How long does a wind shear last?
I've got a job interview next week and the interviewer asked my colleagues this question. I didn't find the answer online, I personally don't think that there is a certain duration for a wind shear ...
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2answers
115 views
What should I look for in weather reports in order to pick a day for glider flying?
I understand weather can change unexpectedly, and local sky condition (e.g. cloud types) can't be predicted, but if I want to fly glider at a specific location, say, some time next week, and use ...
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3answers
160 views
Do IFR / VFR weather minimums include ceilings?
I'm not really sure how to ask my question, but there are classifications for weather conditions for MVFR, IFR, and LIFR. The FAA also has weather minimums for flying VFR in the different airspaces ...
6
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2answers
314 views
How did this air force plane likely get into the eye of Hurricane Florence? [duplicate]
The annotation for this CNN video says
Air Force plane flies into Hurricane Florence
Watch as a US Air Force plane flies into the eye of Hurricane Florence to collect weather data for the ...
3
votes
2answers
102 views
Is the size of hail on the ground any indication of the winds and updrafts of a thunderstorm?
Is there any rule of thumb or way to estimate the wind speeds or up and down drafts inside a storm by the size of hail that reaches the ground?
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2answers
328 views
Can small planes see lights on the ground?
I live about 5 miles from a small airport. At night, during rain or snow storms when I imagine there would be poor visibility, I always turn our outside house lights on, in case they could possibly ...
8
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2answers
371 views
When the winds aloft are light and variable, what wind direction and speed should I use for flight planning?
What do you input in a navlog for wind direction and velocity, when the wind and temp forecast says 9900+18? I know 9900 means light and variable winds less than 5kts but how do I determine the ...
2
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1answer
84 views
Where can I find the German GAFOR online?
Where can I access the GAFOR for Germany for free online (or at least something close)?
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1answer
54 views
Weather Reporting of wind direction [duplicate]
General weather reporting for wind direction in Australian Standard the degrees in wind direction identifies where the wind is coming from.
Is it the same around the world?
3
votes
1answer
138 views
In an ATIS broadcast, is the visibility in statute or nautical miles?
I think I remember seeing somewhere that since it's an observation at the surface, statute miles are used for the visibility. Would be nice if someone had a reference.
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3answers
3k views
Was ATC overstepping its boundaries when advising a pilot to ignore a cell warning?
I found a clip on YouTube (via an article on Jalopnik) of an Aer Lingus pilot departing from JFK. Due to a weather cell showing up on his instruments, he can not make the left ATC asks him to make.
...
13
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1answer
2k views
Why is the flight duration of the same flight different in different months? [duplicate]
For example:
CX880 (HKG TO LAX) takes 13h40m on the 2nd of August, but only takes 12h50m in September.
CI008 (TPE TO LAX) is the same; it takes half an hour less in September than in August.
What ...
23
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3answers
3k views
How do hot air balloons navigate?
Hot air balloons are quite obviously carried along with the wind, so how can they be navigated? Choosing the correct launch point relative to the desired landing point would seem to play a major part ...
2
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0answers
45 views
Can a weather forecast tell me if airplanes will leave long contrails? [duplicate]
Training 7 ball and 5 club juggling requires me to look up into the sky for durations of up to one minute. Frequently, this is very taxing on my eyes and, frustratingly, requires me to wear sunglasses....
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1answer
121 views
What does this wind symbol mean? [duplicate]
At https://www.aviationweather.gov on the Forecasts puldown, then the Aviation Forecasts selection, the chart opens and often shows what looks like a letter R with a tail in the lower right, in ...
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2answers
452 views
Icing conditions temperature range: SAT or TAT?
Considering the general rule of thumb defining potential icing conditions: temperature between +10 and -40 degrees C and presence of visible moisture,
is the temperature range regarding TAT (total ...
3
votes
1answer
326 views
Why were these Hawkeyes flying in a circular pattern?
A couple of months ago I was near the Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia, when I saw 3 or 4 planes flying in a tight circular pattern. The planes were on the larger side, prop driven and had large ...
2
votes
1answer
162 views
Why does GR mean hail in a METAR?
Wouldn't you think they'd choose HL instead?
That might confuse pilots who frequently see SS (Sandstorms),
DS (Dust Storms) and VA (Volcanic Ash).
1
vote
1answer
292 views
What API can I use to get FAA NOTAMS or will this one I found work?
I am not sure if this is the correct place to ask this because it has to do with APIs with XML/JSON/SOAP, but it also has to do with aviation.
I am in dire need to find an API associated with the FAA ...
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1answer
64 views
What to do when moisture forms on the helicopter's canopy in a weather front?
Moisture has condensed on the canopy of your helicopter as you fly through a weather front – what should you do?
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1answer
90 views
What does “RA” mean in the FAA Terminal Constraints?
I'm trying to interpret the Terminal Constraints listed on the Operations Plan Advisory (https://www.fly.faa.gov/adv/adv_spt.jsp). RA seems to be used in the context of weather, but I haven't been ...
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1answer
129 views
What do these numbers and symbols on the ICAO SIGMET chart represent?
Anybody who can identify the numbers and alphabets in the red, green, and purple circles on the chart above?
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vote
1answer
122 views
How can I find out what time an airport was closed due to weather?
Where do I find at what time an airport was closed, due to inclement weather, on a specific date? I completed the first leg of my flight, which was one hour from take-off to landing. When I arrived in ...
5
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2answers
663 views
How do modern commercial aircraft handle dust storms?
I live in West Texas where dust storms are an occasional fact of life. I am interested in how modern jet aircraft handle dust storms such as the one seen in the photo. From a pilot POV I can see that ...
3
votes
1answer
429 views
What's the difference between aquaplane and hydroplane?
If one reads through 10 articles describing a plane which overran a contaminated runway, the term aquaplane will be used 9 times and the term hydroplane once (and on that one time there will be a ...
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1answer
78 views
What is the reason behind the colors used for different flight categories?
In Skyvector, Foreflight and Aviation Weather Center the following colors are used for flight conditions:
LIFR = Magenta
IFR = Red
MVFR = Blue
VFR = Green
In most contexts, red is used as the ...
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vote
2answers
224 views
How can an inexperienced pilot tell if the weather is good enough for flying?
When I look at weather in the morning of my flight, it looks good. However, the actual determination can be made later during the day closer to my flight time.
Being a student pilot, how can I ...
3
votes
1answer
258 views
Can aircraft depart/arrive after another aircraft has sprayed snow on the runway?
Does snow spray affect runway surface friction? The weather was bitterly cold on March 18th, 2018 and Birmingham airport was covered with snow. As you can see in this video, an A380 sprays snow on the ...
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1answer
204 views
Where is the weather data for the Garmin G1000 retrieved from?
In a few videos I saw the possibility of looking for example at wind data. Now my question would be where does the G1000 gets the data from?
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votes
3answers
205 views
Is a weather briefing required? [closed]
Are pilots legally required to obtain a weather briefing prior to some or all flights?
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0answers
131 views
Did these weather conditions require the airline to cancel a flight? [duplicate]
[I do not believe this question duplicates a previous question, which involves different conditions and circumstances]
I'm interested in the airline's response to a query of mine about why a flight ...
2
votes
1answer
81 views
What is the relationship between mountain breeze and air pressure?
I am studying for my PPL and am having some problems understanding the mountain breeze phenomenon, especially when it comes to my understanding of pressure.
Basically, I've read that during the day ...
9
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2answers
270 views
How do airlines handle SIGMETS?
In general, what is the action taken by airlines when presented with a SIGMET in the projected route. Will they go around it, cancel the flight prior to takeoff, or simply fly thought it anyway?
As ...
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0answers
39 views
How do commercial pilots know turbulence is ahead? [duplicate]
On commercial flights, an announcement will be made if turbulence is expected ahead and if the route will be adjusted such as moving to a higher altitude.
How do pilots know that turbulence is ahead ...
5
votes
2answers
716 views
What is the required cloud clearance in G airspace when there are clouds just above in class E airspace?
This is my first question here and I am about to start my Private Pilot License (PPL).
Now I am flying in my Flight Simulator X. So, I am at KDKK airport. It has an elevation of 692 MSL . I got my ...
49
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6answers
12k views
Why was my flight cancelled due to bad weather while other flights were not?
I'm stuck in Frankfurt. I missed my connection due to a delay. I was rebooked, but this new flight was also cancelled due to bad weather.
About 30 percent of all flights were cancelled today. ...
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1answer
51 views
Is there a tool or site where I can see wind vectors overlaid on a prognostic chart? [closed]
I'm hoping to find a source where I can see wind vectors overlaid on a prognostic chart, to visualize how the wind moves around the pressure systems and fronts.
Curious if anyone knows of ...
11
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2answers
656 views
Do passengers notice if the aircraft is struck by lightning?
I recently saw a video from Valk Aviation
(actual scene)
of a KLM B777-300 struck by lightning on departure. It happened a few days ago.
I know this looks more frightening than it really is and the ...
2
votes
1answer
317 views
How is cloud height measured?
In general, cloud height is measured from ground or AMSL (above mean sea level)?
If they measure from AMSL, how are low level clouds' height measured in higher terrain?
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1answer
106 views
When temperature increases what happens to the air molecules and aircraft while landing and takeoff during hot weather?
Just out of curiosity on a hot weather with temperature increases what happens to the air molecules and aircraft during landing and takeoff?
5
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2answers
2k views
How to calculate outside air temperature at a certain altitude?
I am a PPL student and working on the cross-country planning.
Let's say the OAT is -13º @ 6000', how to calculate the OAT @ 7000'?
4
votes
1answer
461 views
What does “With One Minute Weather” Mean?
Yesterday I was listening to LiveATC at McClellan Field (KMCC) since many CAL Fire Tankers are stationed there and there's a lot of activity recently.
As the tankers returned from their bombing runs, ...
5
votes
1answer
241 views
On a METAR, what does DSPTD mean?
KDEN is currently reporting the following METAR:
SPECI KDEN 090325Z 34031G37KT 10SM -PLRA FEW015 OVC036 08/03 A2992 RMK AO2 PK WND 35037/0325 RAB04PLB25 TS DSPTD P0000 T00830028 $
I have no idea ...
2
votes
1answer
268 views
How are altimeter settings estimated?
So, I spotted another weird METAR from the same place that spawned the first one I asked about (it's a USAF base if you're wondering what kind of 'drome it is):
K... 060846Z 00000KT 10SM OVC002 18/...
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1answer
259 views
What does this A320 FCTM quote about cold weather and non-precision approaches mean? [closed]
Can someone explain this paragraph from the A320 FCTM about minimum temperatures for non-precision approaches? I can't understand it.
COLD WEATHER OPERATIONS For all Non Precision Approaches, there ...
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1answer
295 views
How can a crew be warned of “Clear Air Turbulence” during the flight?
Is there any piece of equipment, on board, to assist the crew to identify and avoid clear air turbulence (CAT)?
9
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1answer
1k views
Why is a TFR issued when barometric pressure exceeds 31.00 InHg?
Why does a barometric pressure above 31.00 InHg trigger a TFR?
